Knesset C'tee Paves Way for Beinisch's Successor

The Knesset's Law, Constitution and Justice Committee approved Monday for the final readings a bill that would allow Judge Asher Grunis to become the next Supreme Court President.

The bill, which has been dubbed "the Grunis Law," was proposed by MK Yaakov Katz (Ketzaleh), chairman of the National Union.

The bill amends the Courts Law by canceling the item that says a Supreme Court President may only be appointed if he has at least three years remaining before his retirement. On the day in which the current Supreme Court President Dorit Beinisch is to retire – February 28, 2012 – Grunis will have 41 days less than three years left until his retirement at age 70, thus making him ineligible under the current law.

The law was passed in the plenum by a vote of 52 to 35 two weeks ago.

MK Katz said Monday that "a great injustice has been averted, in that a talented judge will not be prevented from being elected to the Supreme Court Presidency because of a mere 41 days. Slowly, the justice that the Sons of Israel yearn for will grow and be seen in the Supreme Court.

Had Grunis been disqualified for appointment, Judge Miriam Naor would likely have succeeded Beinisch. Grunis is considered to be less of a judicial activist than Naor and more "old-school" in his approach.